Fishfinder
 

I am looking for an inexpensive fishfinder for my brother in law for christmas. I would like to spend less than $150. He actually has 2 boats, and I wonder if the suction cup transducers are any good. Any advice on a good unit for $150 or less and whether suction cup mount transducers are any good would be appreciated.

You could buy him one unit and buy and additional transducer and mount for his other boat.

Take a look at the matrix series by Humminbird. Their Matrix 12 is about $150. I had an older Matrix and it seemed to work pretty well. Just a thought but, for a buck fifty you probably won't get a color one unless you go used. As far as the suction cup mounts go, I would just get another transducer to mount in the other boat. None of the FF are going to come with a suction cup mount so you will have to buy it seperately and they are the same price as a fixed mount one.

-Svence

Maybe one of these would work for yuh.

http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2578&page=1
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2627&page=1
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=1
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=2

If he does fishing from the shore this would be nice.
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=2

Or this one would be good for all ocasions.
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=2

And this are just downright NEAT! Not that expensive either.
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=2
http://www.byownerelectronics.com/st...at=2660&page=2

this is out there but,

Eagle Cuda $215 gps and FF

A friend gave me a Humminbird Piranha Max 215. I think he spent about $100. Stay away from those suction cups, they SUCK! Always pulling loose.

Does the Piranha Max work pretty well?

OK, looks like I can get either a Garmin 150 fishfinder or a Humminbird Piranhamax 215 (both new) for $85 including shipping. That's right about what I would like to spend for my brother in law. Any thoughts on which unit would be better. Both come with transom mount transducer.

Looks like I can also get the Eagle Cuda for about $85 too. Any thoughts on Garmin vs. Humminbird vs. Eagle. The Garmin has dual beam transducer while the Humminbird is single. Not sure about the Eagle.

In general the garmin FF stuff is not the best until you get yourself a black box sounder. So without digging into the details yet I would go with the humminbird. They have a good rep as far was FF's go.

-Svence

I've only been out with the Piranha Max once. I think I'll be mounting the transducer in the bilge because it likes to kick water on to the side of my engine. It holds the bottom well up till about 4400 rpm when it goes intermitant. The menus are super easy to use and program, and it's only got three buttons.